1987 Cherokee Serpentine Belt Squeal
 

I'm trying to fix a belt squeal. I loosened the power steering pump bolts, 3 on the front and 2 on the rear. Tightened the belt and squeal goes away but after tightening the power steering pump bolts it starts squealing again. I'm assuming the pump is out of alignment but to my untrained eye it looks okay.

Is that the likely problem? If so, how do I correct it?

Are you sure it's a belt squeal, Don? Maybe some work with a mechanic's stethoscope would be helpful.

yes. When I squirt water on the belt it clears right up.

Get a belt tension gauge and set the belt tension to 180 lbs. The Kriket-II is around $11 at NAPA.

it appears to be an alignment problem. Not tension.

have you observed the harmonic balancer from directly above with the engine running?..it was obvious mine needed replacing

my year model can have idler pulley bearing issues too

I appreciate everyone's advice but read my OP a little closer. The squeal is not there when the power steering pump bracket bolts are loose. It comes back when the bolts are tightened back up so the problem is connected to the power steering pump alignment.

How do I adjust the power steering pump alignment?

Need to know if you have an alignment issue first.

You could have an alignment issue if the harmonic balancer is starting to come apart.
The is no adjustment for power steering pump alignment.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...f587220f5c.jpg

I "think" I found the problem. The threaded part of the PS pump bracket that the adjustment screw goes through broke so it can't hold the tension in place. Looks like it's cast iron. The bracket is held on by only 2 bolts so taking it off with the exception of figuring out how the bolt at the bottom that the pump pivots on comes out. Off to search the manual.

Here is the part that broke. I don't know what it's called
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...dbc3a10219.jpg

search for 1 or any possible sources. Anyone?

If I didn't know any better I say it is part of what my '00 uses to tighten the belt.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NDP6...cleAddPDP=true

Problem is I thought older Jeeps were set up a little different for belt tension.
For some reason I don't have a '87 parts catalog. '84 to '86 and '88 to '90.
And even then I can't find what I think is used for belt tension in either of those so....

The parts catalog calls it a "collar", mopar part number 53002915. The first link below says the same part number covers 1987 to 1996 XJ, ZJ, and YJ.
https://www.moparpartsgiant.com/part...~53002915.html

The usual reason for breaking that is that screw gets seized inside, or you forget to loosen the mounting bolt before reefing on the adjuster screw.

Bummer. A couple of days sooner and I could have given you one from my 97, but it's gone to the junkyard now.... :(

It is not the same part number so I am going with not the same part.
53010149 in a '97 to '99 parts catalog.
But then again it would not be the first time that Jeep assigned a completely different part number to the exact same part.
With the parts number lawsoncl posted I was able to search for it and find in my '88 to '90 catalog.
Still could not find it in my '84 to '86 though.